Apparatus for launching rocketpropelled shells



NOV. 19, 1968 I RAS-MUSSEN ET AL 3,411,402

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING ROCKET-PROPELLED SHELLS Filed Feb. 5, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 1 n K r \O 1 I if] \4 2 II I i ll H i {m5 l J,J I \Luvvewrozs GEO/P65 PASMl/5SEV 408507.! $Pumlea By (UZLZ. m

Nov. 19, 1968 RASMUSSEN ET AL 3,411,402

APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING ROCKET-PROPELLED SHELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 5, 1967 AUTO MM? United States Patent 3,411,402 APPARATUS FORLAUNCHING ROCKET- PROPELLED SHELLS George Rasmussen, Long Beach, andRobert J. Spellmire, San Marino, Calif., assignors, by mesneassignments, to Pike Corporation of America, Los Angeles, Calif., acorporation of California Filed Feb. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 613,899 2 Claims.(Cl. 89-1.812)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for launching a rocket-propelledshell which comprises a hollow tube into which a shell is inserted atone end and in which a firing pin is mounted on the other end. The endof the tube adjacent the firing mechanism has at least one pair offlexible but resilient finger elements extending downwardly from the ribstructure to hold and detain the lower end of a shell and to hold itinto position prior to firing. The shell firing mechanism includes aspring loaded firing pin for striking the shell and means forconstraining the firing pin against the action of its spring. The shellfiring mechanism also includes a safety device including a spring loadedrelease pin mounted on a slidable plate.

The present invention relates to rocket launching devices in general andmore particularly relates to a launcher mechanism for use withrelatively small rocketpropelled shells.

The concepts relating to rockets and rocket launchers are notscientifically new. However, in the past, the rockets and the means forlaunching these rockets have been relatively large and complexstructures. Stated differently, there has not heretofore been a rocketlauncher that could easily be held in the palm of one hand and, suitablyoriented, fired with the other hand. As may be expected, such launcherswould be applicable wherever it would be useful or advantageous to firesmall rocket-propelled shells.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide alauncher mechanism for very small rocketpropelled shells.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an extremelylight, compact and inexpensive rocketlaunching mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide arocket-launching mechanism that can fit into the palm of one hand andfired with the other hand.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understoodfrom the following description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which an embodiment of the invention isillustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a launcher mechanism according to the presentinvention, the broken-line outline of a shell also being shown toillustrate the mounting of a shell therein;

FIGURE 2(a) is a top view of a launcher mechanism according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2(b) is a side view, in cross-section, of a launcher mechanismaccording to the present invention showing the internal structuralarrangement thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the firing section of 3,411,402Patented Nov. 19, 1968 ice a launcher mechanism according to the presentinvention; and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the launcher mechanism illustrating amodification thereof to facilitate it's handling and firing.

Considering now the drawings, wherein like or similar parts or elementsare given like or similar designations throughout the several figures,reference is initially made to FIG. 1 wherein a side view of a launchermechanism is shown, the outline of a shell also being shown by means ofa broken line to indicate how a shell is mounted in the launcher forfiring purposes. The launcher mechanism is designated 10 and the shellillustratively shown therein is designated 11. It is thus seen that thelauncher is basically a hollow tube and that the shell is mounted in theupper portion of it, the means by which the shell is fired being locatedat the base of the launcher which, in the figure, is at the right end ofthe tube. It should be noted that to hold the shell in place, there is agroove 11a located at the base of the shell which cooperates withcertain elements of the launcher, and the manner in which the grooveaids in this respect will be explained more fully below.

The firing means shown in FIG. 1 includes a plate type of key 12, madeof metal or other sturdy material, to which a string 13 is attached andit is the pulling of this string that initiates the firing of a shell11. Key 12 is fitted or mounted in a slot or key way 14 in the wall ofthe launcher mechanism and when string 13 is pulled with sufiicientforce, the key comes out of this opening to thereby allow the internalportions of the firing apparatus to operate. Finally, it will be notedfrom FIG. 1 that at the base of the launcher mechanism there is anotheropening 15 in the wall thereof that intersects key way 14, the functionand purpose of this second opening to become clearer later. A morecomplete understanding of the construction and operation of a launchermechanism according to the present invention may be had from FIGS. 2(a),2(b) and 3 to which reference is now made. As shown therein, thelauncher is a tubular or cylindrically-shaped device whose upperportion, which is the portion above the firing mechanism, is hollow toreceive a shell. The inside surface of this upper hollow portion isribbed, there preferably being six ribs equally spaced around theperiphery of the tube. The ribs are designated 16 and they extend downinto the hollow portion, that is to say, longitudinally along the tubeuntil they end just above the firing structure. The purposes of theseribs are, first, to provide structural strength for the launcher and,second, to reduce the air drag on a shell as it leaves the tube after itis fired, this being achieved because the ribs provide the right kind ofspacing between the shell and the Wall of the launcher tube.

Also mounted in this hollow portion of the launcher mechanism, at thebase of ribs 16 and extending from them in the direction of the firingstructure, are a plurality of finger elements 17, there preferably beingfour such finger elements equidistantly spaced, that is to say, ninetydegrees apart, around the periphery of the tube. These finger elementsare of flexible and resilient construction and they are intended to anddo enter the groove 11a of a shell 11 when one is mounted insidelauncher 10, the finger elements thereby holding the shell in placeafter firing until sutficient thrust has been built up or generated toproperly launch the shell, thereby enhancing the stability and accuracyof the rocket. When firing does take place, the forward thrust andinitial motion of the shell forces these finger elements to snap out ofthe groove, thereby releasing the shell from any impediment to itsforward motion. Prior to firing, these same finger elements prevent theshell from falling out of the tube should it be held with its muzzledownward.

Looking now to the bottom portion of the launcher tube, that is to say,to that portion of it that contains the firing mechanism, it can be seenfrom FIGS. 2(a), 2(1)) and 3 that this bottom structure includes acentrally disposed cylindrical chamber 18 in which a spring-loadedfiring pin is axially located, the pin being designated 19 and itsassociated spring being designated 20. As can be seen from FIGS. 2(a)and 3, chamber 18, which is structurally supported by means of radialribs 21, has a pair of slits 22a and 22b extending transversely throughits Wall, both slits being in alignment with opening 14 through thelauncher wall. Plate or key 12 extends through both these slits to theother side of the chamber, as shown in the figures.

As can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 2(a) and 3, the forward portionof plate or key 12 is generally U- shaped, the opening or spacingbetween the arms of the U, designated 23, being narrow enough to preventthe firing pin from rushing forward to strike the shell that might be inthe launcher tube at the time. In short, key 12 is a release mechanismthat releases the firing pin from its restrained position only when thekey is Withdrawn from slits 22a and 22b. As previously mentioned, thisis accomplished when the user pulls on string 13.

Finally, in order to prevent any premature firing or operation of thefiring mechanism, the firing mechanism also includes a safety devicethat prevents the key 12 from being pulled out until the user is readyto do so. More specifically, this safety device comprises a springloadedpin or similar type element that is mounted perpendicularly to key 12 inan opening therethrough located in the area between slit 22a and opening15, as is shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 3. The pin is designated 24 and thespring thereon is designated 25, the pin, because of the spring,normally being in a fully upright or extended position above the key,with the result that normally the pin will not clear or pass throughopening 15. This means that pin 24 is long enough so that in itsnormally extended position it will abut against the wall of the launchertube above opening and thereby prevent the key from being pulled out.This will, in turn, prevent the release of firing pin 19.

Pin 24 may be held on key 12 by means of a C-washer or clamp located onthe other side of the key and, therefore, not shown in the figuresbecause of their particular orientation or perspective. Suffice it tosay that when a shell is seated in the launcher tube, such as isillustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom surface of the shell contacts pin 24and depresses it against the action of its spring 25. Accordingly, onlywith a shell in position does the pin clear or pass through opening 15to permit complete withdrawal of key 12 and if string 13 is pulled atthis point, the firing pin 19 will strike the shell to fire it into theatmosphere.

Although the use of a string 13 is both effective and economical, it maynevertheless be desirable to modify the launcher mechanism in the mannershown in FIG. 4 wherein a substitute for the string is illustrated. Thissubstitute structure is in the form of a handle 26 that is fastened tothe launcher tube by means of a pair of bands or loops 27a and 2712 thatencircle the tube. The substitute device also includes a member 28 thatis rotatably mounted around a bolt 29 as a pivot point, the bolt goingthrough both handle 26 and member 28 at one end thereof. At the otherend of the member 28, there is located a pin or prong 29 that isintegral with and extends from this member toward key 12, the tip or endof this prong 29 being inserted in or passing through an opening locatednear the end of the key. Consequently, when handle 26 and member 28 aregrasped and squeezed, member 28 rotates about bolt 29, with the resultthat key 12 is pulled outward by the prong 29 to thereby sufficientlywithdraw the key from the firing mechanism to permit the firing pin 19to function. For convenience in handling, it will be noted that member28 has been contoured to conform to the shape of the fingers.

In mounting this substitute arrangement, bands 27a and 27b are initiallyin a loosened condition so that both of them can be easily slipped ontothe launcher tube. When this is done, prong 29 is then slipped into theopening through key 12 and the bands tightened. The device is now readyfor use.

One of the advantages of this substitute apparatus over the string 13 isthat it provides positive means by which the launcher mechanism can beheld with one hand. Furthermore, it provides the user with the enhancedopportunity of orienting the tube in the desired direction andmaintaining it steady in that direction. In addition, and moresignificantly, it affords the user the opportunity both of holding thelauncher and firing it with but one hand.

Although a particular arrangement of the invention has been illustratedabove by way of example, it is not intended that the invention belimited thereto. Accordingly, the invention should be considered toinclude any and all modifications, alterations or equivalentarrangements falling within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for launching a rocket propelled shell, said apparatuscomprising:

a hollow tube into which a shell is inserted at one end and in which ashell firing mechanism is mounted on the other end, the portion of thetube holding the shell having a plurality of rib structures spacedaround the inside surface thereof that extends longitudinally along thetube for substantially the length of the shell, said rib structuresadding rigidity to the tube and spacing the shell therefrom to minimizedair drag thereon when the shell is propelled forward;

said portion of the tube further having at least one pair of flexibleand resilient finger elements extending downwardly from said ribstructures to grab the lower end of the shell and firmly hold it inplace inside said tube prior to firing;

said shell firing mechanism includes a safety device that comprises anopening through the wall of the tube, a plate for activating said firingmechanism slidably mounted in said opening and a spring loaded releasepin mounted on said plate perpendicularly thereto, said release pinbeing too long to pass through said opening unless depressed by a shellin the tube.

2. Apparatus for launching a rocket propelled shell,

said apparatus comprising:

a hollow tube into which a shell is inserted at one end and in which ashell firing mechanism is mounted on the other end;

the portion of the tube holding the shell having a plurality of ribstructures spaced around the inside surface thereof that extendslongitudinally along the tube for substantially the lenth of the shell,said rib structures adding rigidity to the tube and spacing the shelltherefrom to minimize air drag thereon when the shell is propelledforward;

said portion of the tube further having at least one pair of fexible andresilient finger elements extending downwardly from said rib structuresto grab the lower end of the shell and firmly hold it in place insidesaid tube prior to firing; and

said shell firing mechanism including a hollow cylindrically-shapedstructure mounted within said tube and oriented along the axis thereof,said structure having a pair of slits through its wall on opposite sidesthereof; a spring-loaded firing pin mounted along the axis of saidstructure; a generally U- shaped plate for activating said firing pinslidably mounted on said structure through the slits thereof,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Garrett 89-1 X Moran.

Green 891.807 Herrmann 89-1.806 Beermann 102-81.6 Biehl et al 891.813

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

